I thought someone might give me some advice on this, before I strap a
directional antenna to my car and load up our old 10 ton network analyzer.
I installed an antenna on my roof to receive a better TV signal (for
digital OTA) and according to a frequency analyzer I have a great signal
(strength and carrier to noise). However, one channel (ch. 10, PBS, NTSC) is
clearly overcome by a competing signal that is continuously transmitted,
causing noise on the picture that almost overwhelms the visual. By the
nature of the signal (random white speckles), I believe it is digital data
that is being transmitted. Some tuners are bothered by it more than others
(the Samsung TV tuner is worse than the Panasonic VCR), but all experience
it. I can't determine the exact frequency (I haven't looked at it with a
spectrum analyzer) but it is not effecting the sound much so I don't think
it is the Ch.11 ATSC signal. There is no Ch 9 broadcast in Las Vegas that
I know of. Adjusting the antenna helps, but does not alleviate the problem.
But because the PBS signal is weaker than others, and because all
transmissions are split between two mountain tops, I must point the antenna
to split the difference to receive all channels equally.
Now for my question: how does one go about finding the source and making
it stop (other than circling the valley with a TV antenna and spectrum
analyzer)? If I do find the source, how do I make it stop? Does anyone know
what might be broadcasting in that area of spectrum?
Dan Grimes
